The inguinal region is one of the most intimate areas of each person, which, no less than other areas of the body, is prone to all kinds of diseases. One of the most common diseases is inguinal hernia. Men and little boys are more susceptible to this disease, due to some anatomical features.
Anatomy. Differences in the structure of male and female groin
To understand what is meant by the inguinal region, it is necessary to define its boundaries. From the point of view of anatomy, the inguinal region has the shape of a triangle and is delimited from below and outside by the inguinal ligament, from the inside by the outer edge of the rectus abdominis muscle, and from above by a line drawn between the anterior superior iliac spines.
An important anatomical structure is the inguinal canal. It is located in the lower part of the inguinal region, near the aforementioned inguinal ligament. The inguinal canal is a space of 5-7 cm. In men, the spermatic cord passes in this place, and in women it is rounduterine ligament. The entrance of the inguinal canal is the superficial inguinal ring, and the exit is the deep inguinal ring.
You need to understand that the inguinal region in men and women is arranged differently. In addition to differences in the structure of the inguinal canal, hairline is an important factor. It is less in women than in men. An uncharacteristic change in hair growth may indicate various endocrine disorders.
Do not forget about the significant differences in the structure of the genital organs of men and women.
In the groin area there is another important structure - the lymph nodes. They become inflamed with a variety of diseases, and you can feel them yourself. To do this, it is necessary to remove the inguinal fold and begin to palpate perpendicular to the inguinal ligament. Slightly enlarged lymph nodes in the groin are often considered normal.
Persistent and painless swollen lymph nodes may indicate benign or malignant neoplasms (cancer). Currently, testicular cancer is characteristic of increasingly younger people, now this age is in the range of 15-45 years. In women, one of the most common causes of death is ovarian cancer. Cervical cancer occurs already at an older age - after 65 years.
Causes of diseases in the groin
Often all our diseases begin with pain. The groin area is no exception. The place of occurrence of discomfort indicates a certain pathology.
Pain in the groin on the right or left may indicate severaldiseases. This may be a consequence of such inflammatory processes as adnexitis, proctitis, endometritis, acute appendicitis, parametritis. In many of them, the inguinal lymph nodes may be enlarged.
Adnexitis
This is an inflammatory and infectious disease of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, which is the result of infection through the blood or through the genital tract. As a result of the disease, the groin in women can become a source of pain. Along with this symptom, the patient's temperature rises, the menstrual cycle is disturbed, and sometimes white purulent discharge appears. In general, the picture may be similar to acute appendicitis.
Acute appendicitis
In acute appendicitis and proctitis, the clinic may be similar to adnexitis, also localized in the right side. This is due to the specific position of the appendix or, in the case of proctitis, the features of the lesion of the rectum. For appendicitis, pain in the right groin is most characteristic.
Parameter
This is a purulent inflammation of the fiber that surrounds the uterus. Like adnexitis, it is infectious. This disease is often associated with traumatic injuries, after which infection with an infectious agent occurs. Injuries in this case can be abortion, rupture of the fallopian tube, various medical interventions. Depending on the extent and strength of the lesion, the woman has a fever, a headache, etc.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Continuing the topic of infectious diseases, one cannot help but recall the diseases thatsexually transmitted. In our time, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, ureoplasmosis and many others have not lost their relevance. These diseases can present with fever, itching, redness in the groin, and other symptoms depending on the pathogen.
Other reasons
But not all skin and groin infections are sexually transmitted. Some may be introduced after a gynecological examination, in which the rules of hygiene were not observed, or infection may occur through household contact. An example of such an infection is a lot of epidermophytosis - diseases in which the skin is affected by a fungus. Infection usually occurs when using a shared towel, in baths, showers, through bedding.
Causes of redness in the groin
Redness in the groin is not always a sign of infectious diseases. The reasons may be allergic reactions caused by improperly selected powder or other detergents. Another of the most common causes is irritation after depilation in the pubic area. To avoid redness and vesicles, it is necessary to properly prepare for the procedure, use skin soothing products.
In men, the groin area may turn red due to wearing uncomfortable underwear, often made from poor quality materials. Most often, this problem worries people in the summer, in hot weather. Redness can be: from minor, not disturbing erythema to severeitchy, with severe rash and vesicles. This phenomenon is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and is very annoying.
Women may also experience the same inconvenience as men, but to a lesser extent. More often, the groin in women may turn red due to neurodermatitis. The cause of this disease is problems with the central nervous system. Also, in order to avoid redness, women need to observe more thorough intimate hygiene. Redness can also be caused by psoriasis. Studies point to a higher propensity for psoriasis in blonde women.
Redness in the groin area is a common problem among children, especially those under the age of one year. The main reasons are untimely change of diapers, diapers, strong wrapping of the child, as a result of which overheating occurs, and uncomfortable clothes that do not correspond to the size of the child. Don't forget about allergic reactions that can be caused by fabrics, inappropriate soaps, complementary foods, even breast milk.
Hernia. What and where?
A fairly common problem is a hernia. What is an inguinal hernia? This is a protrusion of organs into the cavity of the inguinal canal. Men are more susceptible to this disease, due to the looser connective tissue in the area of the inguinal ring, and also because of the wider superficial inguinal ring, about twice as much as in women.
Hernias can be acquired and congenital. What is a congenital inguinal hernia? It is typical for premature boys, which is often associated with untimelydescent of the testicle. It is also necessary to distinguish between oblique and direct hernias. The oblique runs in the inner inguinal ring and goes obliquely along the inguinal canal, which is why it got its name. Direct inguinal hernia is formed through the external inguinal ring, which is associated with weakness of the abdominal wall. Congenital hernias can be oblique, straight, or inguinoscrotal, while acquired ones are mostly straight.
The disease can give pain in the left groin, burning on the left or right in the groin area, and when touching a painful place, a person may feel a protrusion or "bump". The size of the protrusion can be of various sizes: from a quail egg to a more impressive one, depending on the weakness of the walls and the neglect of the process.
Protrusion itself in the initial stages may disappear from time to time, and appear only during or after physical exertion. The hernial sac may appear and disappear depending on the position of the body. If an inguinal hernia is suspected, pain is felt in the left groin, and you should definitely consult a doctor to avoid complications. Of the consequences, stagnation of feces can be distinguished, which can lead to intestinal obstruction, inflammation of the testicle, inflammation of the hernia itself. But the most dangerous complication is the strangulation of the hernia, which in some cases leads to the death of the patient.
When the above signs appear, the following alarms may join them:
- presence of blood in the feces;
- repeated vomiting of central origin (aftervomiting is not relieved);
- a sharp increase in soreness.
This indicates a strangulated hernia. If the inguinal region gives such symptoms, then you need to remember the following: do not try to set the hernia contents, you need to call an ambulance for immediate hospitalization.
Diagnosis of hernias
The basis of diagnosis is examination. In some cases, it is necessary to conduct an ultrasound of the hernial contents or herniography - an X-ray examination of the hernia. In men, it is advisable to conduct a differential diagnosis with a femoral hernia (the hernia will be below the inguinal ligament) and with a varicocele (hydrocele).
Hernia treatment
The success of treatment and the risk of complications directly depends on the patient - the sooner he goes to the hospital, the better for him. The problem is that this disease does not bother many, since the formation is small in size and appears periodically, which people do not pay attention to.
Treatment is always prompt. An operation is performed to remove an inguinal hernia in men and women called hernioplasty, it is also herniography. During the operation, surgeons dissect the hernia and evaluate the organs located there. If everything is in order with them, then they are returned to their place, and then the abdominal wall is strengthened. If the organs are damaged, ischemic, then they must be removed. During the operation, the surgeon must evaluate the hernial contents according to the following signs:
- color;
- presence of ripple;
- perist altic movements.
Now inIn hernioplasty, special meshes are often used to reduce the risk of complications and prevent re-hernias. In some cases, an operation to remove an inguinal hernia in men or women is performed without the notorious "cuts" - by performing a laparoscopic operation. The first week after it, you must refrain from eating gas-producing foods, and in the next 3-4 months, avoid intense physical activity.
